World news in brief, 3/28

LONDON — A record-breaking cyberattack targeting an anti-spam watchdog group has sent ripples of disruption coursing across the Web, experts said Wednesday.

Spamhaus, a site responsible for keeping ads for counterfeit Viagra and bogus weight-loss pills out of the world's inboxes, said it had been buffeted by the monster denial-of-service attack since mid-March, apparently from groups angry at being blacklisted by the Swiss-British group.

It's unclear who exactly was behind the attack, although a man who identified himself as Sven Olaf Kamphuis said he was in touch with the attackers and described them as mainly consisting of disgruntled Russian Internet service providers who had found themselves on Spamhaus' blacklists. There was no immediate way to verify his claim.

Pakistan

Role of Bhutto's son in election uncertain

ISLAMABAD — The re-election prospects for Pakistan's outgoing ruling party are looking even tougher after indications emerged this week that one of its star vote-getters — the young son of assassinated Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto — will play a less prominent role in the campaign because of security concerns and political infighting.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is the only male heir to the political dynasty started by his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who served as president and prime minister but was overthrown in a coup and executed in 1979. The father's legacy was continued by his daughter, Benazir Bhutto, until her death in a gun and bomb attack in 2007.

Bilawal, 24, is too young to run in the election, but he was expected to play a key role in rallying voters for The Pakistan People's Party in the May 11 parliamentary election.

Greece

Bomb explodes near Acropolis

ATHENS — A bomb exploded outside a Greek ship owner's house near a crowded pedestrian area under the Acropolis in central Athens on Wednesday night, causing minor damage but no injuries, police said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which follows a string of bomb attacks in the financially-struggling country by anarchist groups that have caused no major injuries or loss of life.

Egypt

Appeals court annulls Morsi decree

CAIRO — An Egyptian appeals court on Wednesday annulled a presidential decree appointing the top prosecutor in a new challenge by the judiciary to Islamist President Mohammed Morsi that throws the country's legal system into confusion.

The unprecedented verdict against the decree, which Morsi issued in November, brought to the surface how Egypt's stormy post-revolution transition has profoundly snarled the lines of authority and law, leaving unclear the boundaries between powers of the president and the judiciary and who has the ultimate say in interpreting a deeply disputed constitution.